How life has changed in Rother

Rother's population increased by about 5,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 91,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rother increased by 6.0%, from about 85,400 to 90,600.

The addition of almost 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rother was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rother

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rother increased by one year, from 49 to 50 years.

This area had the highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in Rother are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Rother saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.9%) people aged 16 and over in Rother said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 10.4% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55.7% to 51.6%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 8.4% to 11.2%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Rother saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Rother reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care occurred in East Lindsey (from 3.3% to 4.1%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Rother remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Rother residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 8.0%, while the percentage of Rother residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88.8% to 87.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Rother increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rother, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rother

In 2011, 97.1% of Rother residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.1% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.2% of people in Rother said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 1.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Rother remained close to 97.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Rother by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

Rother saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Rother said they were employed, compared with 42.4% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.2%.

Across the region, only Eastbourne saw a greater rise in the proportion of employed people (from 48.4% to 49.8%).

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rother

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Rother was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.3 points.

In 2011, 27.5% of respondents in Rother gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Rother, 70.6% said they were Christian, compared with 83.2% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Muslim decreased from 0.7% to 0.6%.

In Rother, 8.2% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Rother increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Rother by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rother that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 14.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10.4%) households lived in social housing, compared with 10.6% in 2001. The percentage of Rother households that owned their home decreased from 77.5% to 73.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Rother increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rother, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rother residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.2% in 2001. The percentage of Rother residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25.3% to 16.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rother decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rother, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Rother working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.0% to 12.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Rother decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rother, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Rother, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.2% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.0%) households had only one person, compared with 33.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rother which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 32.5% to 31.1%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Rother increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rother, the South East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

The percentage of households in Rother with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.9% to 7.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in five (22.1%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 22.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rother without children decreased from 70.6% to 70.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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